I've been working on this for about a month or so now, and I've amassed a nice little team of spriters and artists. We have a lot ahead of us, considering this project is pretty ambitious, but we're chugging along!

If you're interested in joining the project as a coder, spriter, musician, or artist, PM me here or MSN/email me at i.love.uboa AT gmail DOT com

(Crossposted from a few other forums)

Game Info

Hieros Gamos is a 3v3 monster battling RPG similar in flavor to Dragon Warrior Monsters, Shin Megami Tensei and the newer Digimon games for the DS. The story is based in both the ancient practice of alchemy and the modern JRPG.

Story

In the world of Roeizek, alchemy has developed so much that it is the single driving force behind everything in the world. The form of alchemy used in Roeizek is homunculus based - most alchemists get by through summoning and binding powerful creatures to do their bidding. After they are finished with, these creatures get released into the wild, causing an influx of monsters surrounding towns and cities. This development called for a new breed of alchemist, one who had the utmost understanding of the homunculi - one who could bind any homunculus to their will.

You are the younger brother/sister of one of these alchemists. Your sister, Morgan, set off three years ago in order to study the Hieros Gamos, the ultimate breeding rite between two super-powerful homunculi. One year ago she was pronounced missing, and you haven't gotten any contact from her until now.

On your doorstep lays a small package. Inside said package is a large crystal - one homunculi are known to produce after they breed.

The return address is illegible, except for the name "Morgan".

The crystal begins to crack and glow. Out of it comes a small homunculus, one of the likes you have never seen before. It appears to be already bound to you, and talks to you as if it has known you for years.

Why would your sister send you this kind of package? What's up with getting a homunculus in the mail? What kind of homunculus is it anyways?

So would begin your long journey as an alchemist, searching for the secrets of your sister and the Hieros Gamos.

Features

-Raise, breed, talk to and battle with over 120 Homunculi in their 4 stages of growth
-In-depth "life stage" and "personality" systems give your homunculi a mind of their own
-Breeding, variety in homunculi, and post-story content give replay value
-Traditional, turn-based battles couple with elemental combination attacks for limitless strategy - think Pokemon Black and White's Triple Battles
-Difficulty about the level of a Shin Megami Tensei game on Normal - hard, but not impossibly hard
-Engaging story with multiple endings
-Homunculi designed by longtime designers of Fake Pokemon - we know what we're doing!

Team

Too see someone's artwork, look them up on Deviantart. Note - old work on dA may not be evident of current skills.

Music/SFX, Tile Spriters and Scripters are all positions in need of filling, but more creature designers are always great!

Special Thanks

Masquerain would like to thank the following people:
-Chris2Balls of tSR, for his amazing sprite critique
-Damain of PxC, for his great encouragement
-And all of my friends who believe this will happen!

I'm waiting until I get a scripter to make the basic needed scripts to make the game work before I begin even touching RPG Maker, besides for mapping. Thus, no screenshots at the moment. However, please enjoy this list of homunculi and the elements/planets they are classified by in lieu of pretty pictures (though I'd consider the sprites on our headers "pretty pictures")

Spoiler:

In the game there are four base elements, which can combine to make 16 'complex' elements. The elements are as follows:

2. Salamendra
Fire + Fire
Ruled By: Mercury
Rank 1: Salamander
Rank 2: Salamander with paws on fire
Rank 3: Salamander-drake with legs + back on fire
Rank 4: Dragon with entire body excluding decorative acessories on fire
Abilityset: Magic Damage
Grimoire Description: A minor manifestation of the element of Fire. The purest possible Fire homunculus, it comes from only the most sacred breeding rituals.
Notes: The starter you receive if your quiz results line up with the Fire element. Takes attacks well, but its health is low and it doesn't do much damage with regular attacks. Its magic is very good however.

3. Danubine
Water+Water
Ruled By: Mars
Rank 1: Baby with translucent skin
Rank 2: Child with translucent skin, violin-like features
Rank 3: Older Child with translucent skin, violin-like features, and waves for a lower body
Rank 4: Adult with translucent skin, violin-like features, and waves for a lower body
Abilityset: Healer
Grimoire Description: A minor manifestation of the element of Water. The purest possible Water homunculus, it comes from only the most sacred breeding rituals.
Notes: The starter you receive if your quiz results line up with the Water element. All Ranks appear androgynous. Does magic damage that is fine for getting through the first part of the game, however it is best used for healing.

4. Sylphen
Air+Air
Ruled By: Jupiter
Rank 1: A small creature inside a tornado
Rank 2: A small creature inside a tornado - the tornado has arms
Rank 3: A larger creature inside a tornado - the tornado has arms
Rank 4: A larger creature inside a tornado - both the creature and the tornado have arms
Abilityset: Melee Damage
Grimoire Description: A minor manifestation of the element of Air. The purest possible Air homunculus, it comes from only the most sacred breeding rituals.
Notes: The starter you receive if your quiz results line up with the Air element. Does a ton of damage, but takes a lot from melee attacks. Health is fairly high.

5. Cusitren
Fire>Earth
Ruled By: Mars
Rank 1: Small shaggy dog
Rank 2: Larger shaggy dog, braids, hair covering the eyes
Rank 3: Even larger shaggy dog, braids, hair covering the eyes, fae wings
Rank 4: Even larger still shaggy dog, braids, hair covering the eyes, fae wings, foxfire surrounding it
Abilityset: Magic Damage/Debuffer
Grimoire Description: A shaggy dog homunculus that is said to bring milk to the Fae. Summoning one of these is a definite way to gain contact with the fair folk.
Notes: Specializes in Damage over Time magic and Fire magic. Has an almost-unique ability, Fairy Ring, which debuffs enemies and buffs allies.

6. Birddon
Air>Fire
Ruled By: Saturn
Ranks 1-4: Concept Art by BynineB
Abilityset: Melee Damage
Grimoire Description: Often used to chase unwanted birds off the alchemist's property, these homunculi can become pests in and of themselves if allowed free range of one's backyard.
Notes: Is basically a mafia don. Knows a few attack-augmenting and support spells, but other than that his melee damage is the way to go. Can also be used to great effect as a tank, however.

7. Mause
Fire>Air
Ruled By: Venus
Rank 1: Old computer mouse
Rank 2: Basic computer mouse
Rank 3: Gaming mouse (Razer Naga)
Rank 4: Armored Gaming mouse (Steelseries WoW mouse)
Abilityset: Tank/Magic Damage
Grimoire Description: Their skills in making electronics work make them popular homunculi. Powerful ones can cause nearby computers to experience a "blue screen of death".
Notes: Starts out fairly weak and best used as a magic damager, however by Mause's last Rank he has come into his own as a powerful tank, specialized to handle magic damage. Can still be used as a magic damager, and his melee attack is decent as well.

8. Rashoumon
Water>Air
Ruled By: Mars
Rank 1: Sled dog puppy
Rank 2: Sled dog with slight demon features
Rank 3: Sled dog with demon features, armor, growing a second head
Rank 4: Two-headed sled dog with demon features and armor
Abilityset: Melee Damage
Grimoire Description: It comes from a devil's gate in the East. It is used as transportation across snow.
Notes: One of the mount monsters who can be used to increase your speed across certain types of terrain, if properly trained. Uses melee attacks with a damage-over-time component.

9. Dhaquid
Water>Earth
Ruled By: Neptune
Rank 1: Small, sparkling "vampire" squid
Rank 2: Vampire squid (no sparkles)
Rank 3: Vampire squid with Dracula features
Rank 4: Vampire squid with features of traditional Slavic vampire
Abilityset: Debuffer
Grimoire Description: A homunculus who is usually sent to give sickness to enemies by sucking their blood. It can be repelled by putting a fresh fish in front of your door.
Notes: Represents the reverse evolution of the vampire in popular culture. Has decent attack and magic skills but where it truly shines is the stat debuffs it can dole out.

10. Valckin
Fire>Water
Ruled By: Mars
Rank 1: Bullet-shaped creature with a smoke tail
Rank 2: Bullet-shaped biped creature with a smoke tail
Rank 3: Bullet-like weasel creature with a smoke tail
Rank 4: Bullet-like weasel creature with an ammo belt and gun arm, and a smoke tail
Abilityset: Magic Damage/Melee Damage
Grimoire Description: It was created with the purpose of demolishing large buildings. Wild ones shoot everything in sight.
Notes: Works as either type of damager. Glass cannon type creature, but good at defeating homunculi with high defenses.

11. Sheipnir
Air>Water
Ruled by: Mars
Rank 1: Lamb with curly fur
Rank 2: Sheep with curly fur, 6 legs
Rank 3: Sheep with small horns, curly fur, 8 legs
Rank 4: Ram with curly fur, 8 legs, racehorse garb
Abilityset: Buffer/Healer/Melee Damage
Grimoire Description: Shorn for their luxorious wool when they're younger. When they have 8 legs, they can run so fast they can fly.
Notes: One of the mount monsters who can be used to increase your speed across certain types of terrain, if properly trained. Super-fast buffer/healer with decent attack.

12. Jerville
Air>Fire
Ruled by: Jupiter
Rank 1: Creature with a bird's legs and small wings.
Rank 2: Long-necked creature with bird's legs, demon wings
Rank 3: Long-necked gryphon-like creature with horse's front legs, bird's back legs, demon wings and horns
Rank 4: Long-necked gryphon-like creature with horse's front legs, bird's back legs, demon wings and horns. Body is more demonic
Abilityset: Magic Damage/Debuffer
Grimoire Description: A homunculus created to scare people with its cry like nails on a chalkboard. It lives near pine trees.
Notes: Uses air magic and fear-type debuffs. Decent all-around stats, can be used for pretty much anything.

13. Jestyena
Air>Water
Ruled By: Mars
Rank 1: Hyena cub with jester's collar
Rank 2: Hyena with jester's hat and collar
Rank 3: Hyena with jester's facepaint, collar and hat
Rank 4: Hyena with Jester's clothes as body markings, facepaint, collar and hat
Abilityset: Buffer/Debuffer
Grimoire Description: Known to make even the most stoic of alchemists laugh with their slapstick comedy. Used as court jesters in the old days of the Monarchy.
Notes: Has lots of abilities based on random choice. High defenses, low attack, but a collection of amazing buffs/debuffs.

14. Coffatos
Earth+Earth
Ruled By: Venus
Rank 1: Coffin with a face + legs
Rank 2: Biped coffin
Rank 3: Knight made of shadow coming out of coffin
Rank 4: Knight with coffin shoulders/facemask
Abilityset: Tank/Melee Damager
Grimoire Description: Once used as a mobile burial coffin during the Plague Years, it has since fallen into disuse, with the exception of battle.
Notes: Knows many 'death-based' abilites, such as instant death and sacrifice spells. Makes an excellent tank. High HP ties in with one spell that restores HP to allies equal to Coffatos's max HP, but kills Coffatos.

16. Millypod
Earth+Earth (first two ranks), Earth>Fire (last two ranks)
Ruled By: Uranus
Rank 1: Pillbug
Rank 2: Millipede
Rank 3: Millipede with human armor
Rank 4: Upright-standing millipede with knight's armor
Abilityset: Tank/Buffer
Grimoire Description: Made for an invertebrate-loving king to be the main bulk of his army. In spite of their appearence they are very chivalrous.
Notes: Best tank in the game, pretty much, but sacrefices attack and magic damage for his defensive skills. Speed is good enough to pull off defensive manuvers.

18. Bassicore
Air>Earth
Ruled By: Jupiter
Rank 1: Lion cub with a stinger
Rank 2: Lion cub with a mane and a stinger
Rank 3: Lion with a mane and a scorpion tail
Rank 4: Lion with a mane, wings, and a scorpion tail
Abilityset: Melee Damage/Debuffer
Grimoire Description: Created as a musical instrument, it became too much to handle and was released into the wild. It plays a bass riff when content.
Notes: One of the mount monsters who can be used to increase your speed across certain types of terrain, if properly trained. Sound-based attacks.

19. Dorappa
Air>Earth
Ruled By: Mars
Rank 1: Small dog with a mic tail
Rank 2: Dog that looks like Parappa with a mic tail
Rank 3: Biped dog that looks like Parappa with a mic tail and turntables
Rank 4: Biped dog with baggy pants, a beanie, sunglasses/a DAT ASS face, a mic tail and turntables
Abilityset: Buffer/Magic Damage
Grimoire Description: Hey Danubine, Imma let you finish, but Bassicore is the best musical homunculus of ALL TIME!
Notes: Really gets the party pumped up with his buffs. Also can insult (damage) with his lyrics.

20. Rampadillo
Earth>Air
Ruled By: Mars
Rank 1: Baby Armadillo with sand mound on its back
Rank 2: Armadillo with sand bucket on its back and shovel
Rank 3: Armadillo with a basic sandcastle on its back
Rank 4: Armadillo with a complex sandcastle on its back
Abilityset: Tank/Debuffer
Grimoire Description: A homunculus made for children to play with after a hurricane decimated the southern beaches. It is still popular with kids today, however parents hate when it tracks sand across the floor.
Notes: Has lots of accuracy-reducing sand moves which help its tanking.

Very nice idea. It's good to see something else than Pokémon games for a change. My question though, how are you gonna make it, with which program and which language?

I have a "maybe" from a coder on another forum, though I'm not sure what language he codes in.

If he says no, then I know my way around RPG Maker pretty well, so if all else fails that's what it'll be made in.

Anyways, here are some more ideas:

The player has certain stats that help with recruiting homunculi: For example, a Birddon (mafia don cowbird) might respond very well to the character's "toughness" or "courage", but a Jestyena (court jester hyena) would respond better to the "humor" stat.

Removal of the 'life stage experience bar', merged into levels

And the first 13 creatures I have info on:

These are in no particular order except the first four, which are based on Dwarves, Salamanders, Undines, and Sylphs - creatures that represent the four basic elements. These four creatures are the ones you can start with.

"Abilityset" represents the types of moves they learn and stats they receive typically. Homunculi you recruit in the wild will typically have these exact characteristics, but bred homunculi will have inherited their parents spells, attacks, and stats, so they can be used for pretty much any of the roles.

The Grimoire is a bestiary/Pokedex. It catalogs homunculi you have bred, recruited, or received. The book also collects records such as breeding and recruitment results.

Finally, Notes are just my notes on what the average creature of that species does, inspiration for designs, mount status, etcetera.

2. Salamendra
Fire + Fire
Ruled By: Mercury
Rank 1: Salamander
Rank 2: Salamander with paws on fire
Rank 3: Salamander-drake with legs + back on fire
Rank 4: Dragon with entire body excluding decorative acessories on fire
Abilityset: Magic Damage
Grimoire Description: A minor manifestation of the element of Fire. The purest possible Fire homunculus, it comes from only the most sacred breeding rituals.
Notes: The starter you receive if your quiz results line up with the Fire element. Takes attacks well, but its health is low and it doesn't do much damage with regular attacks. Its magic is very good however.

3. Danubine
Water+Water
Ruled By: Mars
Rank 1: Baby with translucent skin
Rank 2: Child with translucent skin, violin-like features
Rank 3: Older Child with translucent skin, violin-like features, and waves for a lower body
Rank 4: Adult with translucent skin, violin-like features, and waves for a lower body
Abilityset: Healer
Grimoire Description: A minor manifestation of the element of Water. The purest possible Water homunculus, it comes from only the most sacred breeding rituals.
Notes: The starter you receive if your quiz results line up with the Water element. All Ranks appear androgynous. Does magic damage that is fine for getting through the first part of the game, however it is best used for healing.

4. Sylphen
Air+Air
Ruled By: Jupiter
Rank 1: A small creature inside a tornado
Rank 2: A small creature inside a tornado - the tornado has arms
Rank 3: A larger creature inside a tornado - the tornado has arms
Rank 4: A larger creature inside a tornado - both the creature and the tornado have arms
Abilityset: Melee Damage
Grimoire Description: A minor manifestation of the element of Air. The purest possible Air homunculus, it comes from only the most sacred breeding rituals.
Notes: The starter you receive if your quiz results line up with the Air element. Does a ton of damage, but takes a lot from melee attacks. Health is fairly high.

5. Cusitren
Fire>Earth
Ruled By: Mars
Rank 1: Small shaggy dog
Rank 2: Larger shaggy dog, braids, hair covering the eyes
Rank 3: Even larger shaggy dog, braids, hair covering the eyes, fae wings
Rank 4: Even larger still shaggy dog, braids, hair covering the eyes, fae wings, foxfire surrounding it
Abilityset: Magic Damage/Debuffer
Grimoire Description: A shaggy dog homunculus that is said to bring milk to the Fae. Summoning one of these is a definite way to gain contact with the fair folk.
Notes: Specializes in Damage over Time magic and Fire magic. Has an almost-unique ability, Fairy Ring, which debuffs enemies and buffs allies.

6. Birddon
Air>Fire
Ruled By: Saturn
Rank 1: Little bird with a bowtie
Rank 2: Bird wearing a tuxedo with a bow tie
Rank 3: Bird wearing a black suit & tie
Rank 4: Hawk wearing a black and grey pinstripe suit
Abilityset: Melee Damage
Grimoire Description: Often used to chase unwanted birds off the alchemist's property, these homunculi can become pests in and of themselves if allowed free range of one's backyard.
Notes: Is basically a mafia don. Knows a few attack-augmenting and support spells, but other than that his melee damage is the way to go. Can also be used to great effect as a tank, however.

7. Mause
Fire>Air
Ruled By: Venus
Rank 1: Old computer mouse
Rank 2: Basic computer mouse
Rank 3: Gaming mouse (Razer Naga)
Rank 4: Armored Gaming mouse (Steelseries WoW mouse)
Abilityset: Tank/Magic Damage
Grimoire Description: Their skills in making electronics work make them popular homunculi. Powerful ones can cause nearby computers to experience a "blue screen of death".
Notes: Starts out fairly weak and best used as a magic damager, however by Mause's last Rank he has come into his own as a powerful tank, specialized to handle magic damage. Can still be used as a magic damager, and his melee attack is decent as well.

8. Rashoumon
Water>Air
Ruled By: Mars
Rank 1: Sled dog puppy
Rank 2: Sled dog with slight demon features
Rank 3: Sled dog with demon features, armor, growing a second head
Rank 4: Two-headed sled dog with demon features and armor
Abilityset: Melee Damage
Grimoire Description: It comes from a devil's gate in the East. It is used as transportation across snow.
Notes: One of the mount monsters who can be used to increase your speed across certain types of terrain, if properly trained. Uses melee attacks with a damage-over-time component.

9. Dhaquid
Water>Earth
Ruled By: Neptune
Rank 1: Small, sparkling "vampire" squid
Rank 2: Vampire squid (no sparkles)
Rank 3: Vampire squid with Dracula features
Rank 4: Vampire squid with features of traditional Slavic vampire
Abilityset: Debuffer
Grimoire Description: A homunculus who is usually sent to give sickness to enemies by sucking their blood. It can be repelled by putting a fresh fish in front of your door.
Notes: Represents the reverse evolution of the vampire in popular culture. Has decent attack and magic skills but where it truly shines is the stat debuffs it can dole out.

10. Valckin
Fire>Water
Ruled By: Mars
Rank 1: Bullet-shaped creature with a smoke tail
Rank 2: Bullet-shaped biped creature with a smoke tail
Rank 3: Bullet-like weasel creature with a smoke tail
Rank 4: Bullet-like weasel creature with an ammo belt and gun arm, and a smoke tail
Abilityset: Magic Damage/Melee Damage
Grimoire Description: It was created with the purpose of demolishing large buildings. Wild ones shoot everything in sight.
Notes: Works as either type of damager. Glass cannon type creature, but good at defeating homunculi with high defenses.

11. Sheipnir
Air>Water
Ruled by: Mars
Rank 1: Lamb with curly fur
Rank 2: Sheep with curly fur, 6 legs
Rank 3: Sheep with small horns, curly fur, 8 legs
Rank 4: Ram with curly fur, 8 legs, racehorse garb
Abilityset: Buffer/Healer/Melee Damage
Grimoire Description: Shorn for their luxorious wool when they're younger. When they have 8 legs, they can run so fast they can fly.
Notes: One of the mount monsters who can be used to increase your speed across certain types of terrain, if properly trained. Super-fast buffer/healer with decent attack.

12. Jerville
Air>Fire
Ruled by: Jupiter
Rank 1: Creature with a bird's legs and small wings.
Rank 2: Long-necked creature with bird's legs, demon wings
Rank 3: Long-necked gryphon-like creature with horse's front legs, bird's back legs, demon wings and horns
Rank 4: Long-necked gryphon-like creature with horse's front legs, bird's back legs, demon wings and horns. Body is more demonic
Abilityset: Magic Damage/Debuffer
Grimoire Description: A homunculus created to scare people with its cry like nails on a chalkboard. It lives near pine trees.
Notes: Uses air magic and fear-type debuffs. Decent all-around stats, can be used for pretty much anything.

13. Jestyena
Air>Earth
Ruled By: Mars
Rank 1: Hyena cub with jester's collar
Rank 2: Hyena with jester's hat and collar
Rank 3: Hyena with jester's facepaint, collar and hat
Rank 4: Hyena with Jester's clothes as body markings, facepaint, collar and hat
Abilityset: Buffer/Debuffer
Grimoire Description: Known to make even the most stoic of alchemists laugh with their slapstick comedy. Used as court jesters in the old days of the Monarchy.
Notes: Has lots of abilities based on random choice. High defenses, low attack, but a collection of amazing buffs/debuffs.

i gotta say, it'sgoo to see other folks tryin their hands at making non pokemon games. currently my project is on hiatus, due to real life issues, but i support and respect your effort. hope you can make this happen.

I like those sprites a lot, except for the eyes on the sprite all the way to the left. They just look a bit odd.

Our right? Yeah, I'm not sure about the design of the blue guy in the tornado. I'll keep working it out.

And thanks, DarkDoom! Yeah, I think I'm going to stick with the "4 shades, limited outline" style for the homunculi.

Anyways, I know you all have been waiting for the reveal of the other two Rank 4 starters (yeah who am I kidding), so here they are!

Everyone but Salamandra could use a lot of work, but I wanted to show you guys that I'm making a lot of progress in a short amount of time. My next project (between fixing up these sprites) is making a mockup of the homunculus status screen.
EDIT: Fixed... well, most everything. Especially Dwartle.

Working, working...
I've started the actual game, using an event system for monster capture and a few scripts to try and replicate the battle system and other features. Not a lot is done, I'm trying to get certain things to look and act the way I want before I work too much on the mapping/eventing.

Here's a screenshot of a test battle. Keep in mind that this is a practically unedited Battle Engine Melody, the main reason I'm showing this is for proof that I'm actually working on the project...
(those facesets were made in paint in like 5 minutes for example purposes...)

On a side note, our website is up. Having a site is mainly so I can store everything in one place where people can find it easily.

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